The ski resort of La Rosière in France is located on the border with Italy, in the heart of the Tarentaise Valley at an altitude of 1850 m, from where you can enjoy stunning views of the valley. It boasts a variety of slopes and wide spaces for off-piste skiing. Here you can ski on the French and Italian sides in the same day. La Rosière is located next to such famous resorts as Val-d’Isere, Tignes and Les Arcs and differs from them in a more relaxed atmosphere and sunny climate. The resort offers excellent conditions for travelers with children and is officially recognized by the French Ministry of Tourism as the best resort for family and children’s holidays. Young guests will find a lot of entertainment here: special ski slopes, an ice rink, a climbing wall, children’s relay races, competitions and much more.

La Rosière is a true rural paradise on the border of France and Italy, providing access to the San Bernardo Valley. The resort was built on the sunny side of the mountain using natural materials (stone, wood, slate), which allowed to preserve the majesty of the mountainous region and add Alpine charm.

Pistes, slopes, lifts

La Rosière offers a great mix of French and Italian skiing – together with the Italian La-Thuile it forms the only ski area of San Bernardo with more than 160 km of slopes and the opportunity to order pizza for lunch. All the slopes here are very picturesque. From above they appear wide, sunny and spacious, descending lower they become narrower and go into the forest.

The skiing season at this resort, like many others in France, begins in December and ends in April. Additional snow is provided by snow “cannons” installed on the slopes. Several ski equipment rental points are open. La Rosière has great opportunities for off-piste skiing.

In addition to the usual groomed routes, La Rosière offers its guests grandiose off-piste skiing areas and the so-called heli-skiing, for trained skiers with professional skills. True, all extreme descents are carried out only in the company of an experienced guide. The maximum height difference here is over two and a half thousand meters. Good snow cover, which is provided by several hundred snow cannons, allows vacationers to feel completely comfortable, and modern high-speed lifts make moving between skiing areas fast and tireless. For cross-country skiers, there are about five kilometers of flat trails. Experienced instructors are at the service of beginners, who will help them master the skills of skiing in mountain conditions in the shortest possible time. In addition, right during the process you can enjoy the amazing landscapes of the French Alps, which rise for many kilometers. The view is particularly beautiful from the upper ski lifts, where you can see not only the entire Tarentaise Valley, but also the majestic peaks of the Mont Blanc and Matterhorn mountain ranges. In the mountains, there are several good restaurants where you can enjoy tasting local culinary delights, as they say, without taking off your skis.

La Rosière is the only French ski resort from which you can fly to the Italian Val d’Aoste massif by helicopter. Experienced extreme skiers are dropped there for heli-skiing and snowboarding on virgin slopes. The resorts of La Rosière and La Thuile are connected by a lift that will take you from France to Italy in 10-15 minutes. For snowboard fans, the Snowzone (“snow park”, “snowcross” and “bordercross” have been built on the territory. The La Rosière resort is focused on skiers with different levels of training, there are trails for beginners, and there are also quite steep slopes that will suit skiers with a high level of training, but most of the trails on it are for beginners and “a little knowledgeable”. The most interesting virgin slopes are located around the Petit-Saint-Bernard pass and Mont-Houillet mountain (3099 m), the difficult slopes of Les Cascades du Ruitor (starting point height – 3300 m, drop – 2100 m), Miravidi (3065 and 1800 meters, respectively) and Freduaz (2900 and 1700 m) are also good. Naturally, participants in heli-ski tours must have a good level of training and the appropriate level of technique.

There are also 2 slalom stadiums, 1 ski jump, 2 toboggan runs and 12 km of flat skiing, 3 modern snow parks and 6 ski schools and 1 specially designated area for training beginners (the resort is a member of the “Little Highlanders” association, so there is an excellent recreation infrastructure for children and families). The slopes are served by 37 lifts (17 tow lifts, 17 chair lifts, 1 gondola and 2 funiculars).

For beginner skiers, the resort is a real expanse. For them, there are many “blue” and “green” slopes. More experienced athletes will not be bored either: in La Rosière there are tracks that descend directly into the villages, they are long and laid along interesting routes, for example, the 11-kilometer descent of San Bernardo. Experts in the French La Rosière are waiting for 12 “black” tracks of increased difficulty. Of these, the most difficult and attractive is Franco Berthod with a length of 3.6 km.

Where to stay

CGH Residences & Spas Le Lodge Hemera 4 star hotel

Located in the centre of La Rosière, Résidence CGH Le Lodge Hemera offers free access to an indoor swimming pool, a hot tub and a sauna. All apartments have a balcony and the Écouves Forest is 21 km away.

Each apartment has a chalet-style décor and a living room with satellite TV. Bed linen and towels are provided, and you can also take a grill raclette set and a fondue set. The bathrooms have a hairdryer.

An oven, hob and dishwasher are provided in the apartment’s kitchen. Additional hotel facilities include a fitness room and massages are available for an additional fee.

Private parking is available on site, 30 km from Bourg-Saint-Maurice and 19 km from the A28 motorway.

chalet les Clarines 2 star hotel

Chalet les Clarines is located in La Rosière, in the region Rhône-Alpes. It offers an outdoor pool and ski storage space. It is 18 km from Bourg-Saint-Maurice. Lievre BlancSki is 500 metres from the property. Free WiFi is available.

All units feature a seating area. Some units feature a dining area and/or balcony, a kitchenette with a dishwasher and an oven. A microwave, a fridge and stovetop are also provided, as well as a coffee machine. There is a private bathroom with a bath or shower in every unit. The chalet offers free private parking on site.

Bike hire is available at the property and the area is popular for skiing and golfing. A number of activities are offered in the area, such as cycling and hiking. Eucherts Ski Lift is 800 metres from Chalet les clarines. Chambéry-Savoie Airport is 76 km away.

Hyatt Centric La Rosiere 4-star hotel

Located in the ski resort of La Rosiere, close to the Italian border, Hyatt Centric La Rosiere offers modern rooms and suites. It features a rooftop bar with views of the Tarentaise Valley. This hotel features a restaurant, an indoor pool and a spa with a wellness pool.

The suite at Hyatt Centric La Rosiere offers mountain views. All rooms have heated carpets and a desk. The apartments have a seating area.

A children’s playroom is available on site. The spa includes 3 hot tubs, a yoga and relaxation room, steam rooms and a sauna. Massage treatments are available at an additional cost. Fitness classes can be arranged at Hyatt Centric La Rosiere upon request.

Private covered parking is available at an additional cost. Eucherts Ski Lift is 150 metres from the hotel. Guests can enjoy downhill skiing in La Rosiere. Bourg-Saint-Maurice is 19 km away.

Chalet l’Aiglon

Located in La Rosière and with La Rosière Ski School reachable within 700 metres, Chalet l’Aiglon features a restaurant, non-smoking rooms, free WiFi and a shared lounge. This hotel is close to attractions such as Roches Noires Express Ski Lift, Manessier Ski Lift and Clarines II Ski Lift. Guests can make use of the hammam and spa centre.

At the guest house, the rooms are fitted with a wardrobe. At Chalet l’Aiglon rooms come with a private bathroom with a hairdryer and free toiletries.

A buffet breakfast is available every morning at the hotel.

Skiing and cycling are some of the activities that guests of the guesthouse can find nearby.

Popular points of interest near Chalet l’Aiglon include Clarines I Ski Lift, Lièvre Blanc II Ski Lift and Lièvre Blanc I Ski Lift.

Entertainment and Active Leisure

A special place in the life of the resort is occupied by its entertainment infrastructure. For those who do not mind relaxing after a whole day spent on the snowy slopes of La Rosière, a wellness center was built

There, visitors are offered a sauna, solarium, Turkish “hammam”, massage room, as well as all kinds of spa treatments. Entrance to the center is paid, and it is open every day except Saturday. As for traditional entertainment, the resort offers restaurants, bars, nightclubs, a cinema and a pub. For fans of outdoor activities, snowshoeing, dog sledding, mountain sledding or ice skating are recommended. Those who do not mind a large amount of money can give it away right away, for a free fall from a height of 4000 meters by parachute, after climbing there by helicopter. Another attraction at the resort is a torchlight ski descent, carried out by specially trained people about once a week to the delight of numerous guests. Paragliding is also common here, and in general, the entertainment program in La Rosière is surprisingly rich and diverse.

Those who want to get more thrills will be offered to fly in a paraglider or helicopter, or ride with the breeze on snowmobiles. As an addition, treat yourself to a trip to the local cinema or bowling. Children will really enjoy the ice rink. And one more thing you can do while in La Rosière is to try snowkiting – inexpensive and very fun.

Family vacation

The “family” profile of the La Rosière resort has been officially confirmed. It is part of the “Little Highlanders” ski resort club – this requires that the entire infrastructure for accommodation, sports and leisure is designed for parents with children. The resort also received the official Famille Plus status, recognized by the French Ministry of Tourism. Its infrastructure is ideally adapted for children’s entertainment, and professional animators in hotels regularly organize interesting and exciting activities for children. The resort has many gentle slopes, there is a kindergarten for children from one and a half years old. Children from four years old and older can already attend ski school.

Local cuisine

Fine gourmets find indescribable pleasure in local cuisine. La Rosière in France is a beautiful and cozy restaurant. Since the resort is located next to the Italian La Thuile, tourists have the opportunity to have breakfast with croissants in France, have lunch in Italy, and have dinner again in France. One of the most ascetic, but high-quality bars on the mountain is Le Foyer Bar. They offer delicious pizza, pancakes and sandwiches at reasonable prices. Almost everywhere here you can taste fresh and delicious soups, Savoyard dishes and all kinds of spaghetti.

Transport, how to get to the resort

The La Rosière resort has a well-developed transport infrastructure. From early morning until late evening, a bus runs between the ski areas, transporting tourists to various destinations along the resort area. The closest cities to the ski complex with airports are Chambery, Grenoble, Swiss Geneva and Lyon. The distances are from 120 to 225 kilometers. From any of them, La Rosière can be reached by expressway, bus or car. It should be noted that the shortest routes lead through the Petit Saint Bernard mountain pass, which is usually closed in the winter months, and the Rutte des Villages tourist route, the possibility of moving along which depends on climatic conditions.

You can also get there by train to the Bourg-Saint-Maurice station, from which it is about 12 km to La Rosière along a picturesque mountain serpentine.

Resort attractions

Among the attractions located in the resort area and its surroundings, the Redoute Runier fort stands out, built by the French in the nineteenth century and which became the property of Germany in 1870. Today, the fortress is almost completely destroyed, but is still a historical value. At the same time, entry to the interior of the fort is prohibited, due to the high probability of collapses, and therefore tourists are allowed to move only around the outer territory, taking photographs of the surviving fragments of the once majestic military fortification.

Висновок

Ля-Розьер являє собою своєрідний світ зимових розваг, цікавий як дорослим, так і дітям. Недарма він входить в число гірськолижних комплексів «Маленькі горяни», які мають яскраво виражене дитяче напрямок. Багатий вибір готелів, зі всілякими розвагами, пологі і широкі траси для новачків, спеціальний комплекс послуг для дітей різного віку та знижки на «скі-пас» для всієї родини, є фірмовою рисою цього курорту. Сезон тут триває з середини грудня по квітень. У різдвяний тиждень влаштовуються численні святкові заходи, і тому в такі дні тут буває особливо весело. Втім, в Ля-Розьер нудно не може бути ніколи, оскільки сам принцип роботи цього гірськолижного курорту передбачає максимальну кількість яскравих вражень, для тих, хто його відвідує.